Captiva Community Panel debuts redesigned, updated website

August 9, 2018

After months in the making, the Captiva Community Panel has launched it new website.

On Aug. 8, the panel unveiled the redesigned and updated site to better communicate with island property owners, residents, businesses and visitors. Aiming to offer relevant and timely information on an ongoing basis, it was funded by a $5,000 donation by the Charitable Foundation of the Islands.

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"The original website had been from almost 20 years ago, so it was outdated," panel Secretary Mike Mullins, a member of the group's communications committee which oversaw the project, said.

He noted that both the site's design and content has been improved upon.

"This is going to be an opportunity to keep people better informed on the efforts that the panel is undergoing, as well as the results of those efforts," Mullins said.

The panel has been recognized by the Lee County Commission as the organization tasked with coordinating and overseeing the community's planning efforts, while proposing goals, objectives, policies and land development regulations that are specifically applicable to the island.

"We've expanded the content and provided a lot of links to other websites that are relevant to Captivans," he said.

Mullins explained that the new site also allows more panel members to access the page and provide information to the community, which can include important and time-sensitive alerts and updates.

For visitors, the panel hopes to use the site as an informative and educational tool.

"To better illuminate to them that we're a residential island, on the careful use of the beach, on sea turtles and nesting season," he said.

The panel began searching for a site designer at the end of 2017, eventually selecting and hiring T.J. Walker, with T.J. Walker Creative in Fort Myers, in the first few months of the new year. Mullins noted that the grant funded the site's creation and the panel will cover its maintenance and operation costs.

But the panel's attempt to better reach island stakeholders is far from done.

"I think the committee itself plans to build a newsletter down the road," he said. "This (the new website) will be instrumental in helping to distribute the newsletter."

Another goal is to offer live streaming or at least video links of the panel meetings.

"So that the people who aren't able to be there to attend the meetings can still participate in the meetings," Mullins said, adding that it will enable more of the community to get involved.

The panel also hopes to build a social media presence.

"We're living in an information age and everybody is adapt at technology," he said. "We want to be able to use technology - so people become better informed."

Mullins explained that one of the cornerstones of the panel's focus is advocacy, so having the site and other methods of communication in place will aid in situations like the ongoing water quality crisis.

"Going forward, we're going to have a much larger reach," he said.

The panel welcomes community input and appreciates having feedback concerning corrections, improvements and ideas for better communication. Those who find any inaccuracies or simply wish to comment or subscribe to future panel releases can email CaptivaCommunityPanel@gmail.com.

The panel generally meets on the second Tuesday of every month at 9 a.m. at the South Seas Island Resort, at 5400 Plantation Road. Meeting agendas are available online at least a week in advance.